Man sent for trial on brothel charges

CASE RELATES TO BROTHELS IN LIMERICK

A TRANSPORT consultant from Malahide who advised Fingal County Council on aspects of the Metro West project has been sent forward for trial on charges of operating and living off the profits of brothels.

Thomas Lyons (54), The Warrens, Malahide, Dublin, is facing seven charges under the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act relating to brothels in Limerick as well as one count of making a false statement to gardaí. Lyons previously worked as a senior consultant with a company involved in advising Fingal County Council and designing support services for the Metro West light rail project in Dublin. His co-accused, Brazilian Zelandia Silva (43), The Matthews, O'Callaghan Strand, Limerick, faces seven charges under the same Act. The pair are charged with three counts of living off the earnings of prostitution from the apartments they owned or rented at Riverpoint, Bishops Quay, Bridgewater House, Harvey's Quay, in Limerick city, and at Grove Island Road, Corbally. They are also charged with a further three counts of operating brothels at apartments in Limerick city between August 2010 and June 2011. They are also each charged with one count of organising prostitution at Brown Thomas, O'Connell Street, Limerick city, on February 2 2011. Mr Lyons is also charged with making a false statement to gardaí regarding a burglary at an apartment at Riverpoint, Limerick, in August 2010. Judge Eugene O'Kelly instructed both defendants that they must notify the State within 14 days if they intend calling any alibi witnesses, and remanded the case back to the next sittings of Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. Both defendants were remanded on continuing bail to the next sittings of the Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. They are to sign on twice weekly at their local Garda stations, surrender their passports and notify gardaí of any change of address.